Where on the Moon should the first Moonbase be?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the optimal location for establishing the first Moonbase, considering various factors such as resource availability, safety from meteoroid impacts, and environmental conditions. Participants explore theoretical, practical, and conceptual aspects of lunar base placement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest the Moon's south pole, particularly the rim of the Shackleton Crater, due to the presence of ice and near-perpetual sunlight for solar energy.
  • Others emphasize the importance of proximity to water sources for sustaining a human habitat, highlighting water's role in oxygen production and energy storage.
  • There are considerations regarding the visibility of Earth from different lunar locations, with some questioning how the Moon's axial tilt affects this perception.
  • Participants discuss the risks posed by meteoroids, noting the lack of atmosphere on the Moon and the potential for significant impacts, which raises concerns about base safety.
  • Some propose that underground locations or lava tubes could provide natural shielding from radiation and meteoroid impacts.
  • Automation and the use of robotic construction methods are mentioned as potential strategies for establishing the base before human arrival.
  • There are differing views on whether lunar orbit could be a viable option for the first base, with some arguing that underground locations may be necessary to mitigate radiation exposure.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the best location for the Moonbase, with no consensus reached on a single optimal site. Discussions about the implications of meteoroid impacts and the need for shielding also reveal differing opinions on safety measures.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include uncertainties about the exact nature of meteoroid impacts on the Moon, the effectiveness of proposed shielding methods, and the accessibility of potential underground sites. The discussion also reflects varying assumptions about the technological capabilities for lunar construction.

  • #31
Lunar dust is indeed a problem - does anyone know how high it levitates? Would the top of a 10 or 20 metre pole be sufficient to keep a PV panel clean? Quite a flimsy structure would suffice with no wind to consider.
 
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  • #32
skystare said:
Lunar dust is indeed a problem - does anyone know how high it levitates? Would the top of a 10 or 20 metre pole be sufficient to keep a PV panel clean? Quite a flimsy structure would suffice with no wind to consider.

THE MYSTERY OF MOON DUST [newyorker]
By Kate Greene November 6, 2013
"The dust not only coats the moon’s surface, but floats up to sixty miles above it"​

Interesting article.
 
  • #33
rootone said:
We have not yet even constructed a permanently inhabited colony under the Seas of Earth...
The one that was constructed above the Seas of Earth, didn't work out all that well either. Remember Biosphere 2 ...?

On the moon, when things don't work out all that well, it's a bit difficult to just open the doors, and walk away.
 

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